39th Street and 43rd Avenue (DOT)
June 15, 2018 By Nathaly Pesantez
All eyes continue to be on Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer for his stance on the city’s controversial proposal to add protected bicycle lanes and remove 120 parking spaces as part of its redesign of Skillman and 43rd Avenues.
Van Bramer, who said he would take a position on the plan after Community Board 2 took its vote, has yet to announce his thoughts. The community board voted against the plan on June 7 by a vote of 27 to 8.
The Council Member said this afternoon, however, that he expects to state his position next week. He said this week has been “incredibly busy,” as he’s been working on passing the city’s budget.
“I anticipate releasing a statement next week about the traffic safety and bike lane proposal,” the Councilmember told the Sunnyside Post.
He added that he continues to talk to residents and business owners daily about the project, and is meeting with the Skillman Project and local business owners who are opposed to the project later today.
Van Bramer’s statement today comes after Rep. Joe Crowley spoke out against the DOT’s proposal, referencing the concerns he’s heard from constituents about the issue. The day after the board vote, Assemblywoman Nolan also came out against the plan due to the number of parking spaces needed to be eliminated for it. Neither Crowley nor Nolan, however, have the power to stop a city-run plan.
The issue has been on the table for seven months, and the public has weighed in on it several times, including at community board meetings, a town hall, and a CB2-led workshop.
The Department of Transportation, which expressed disappointment after the full board vote, did not respond to questions on where the agency is with the project.
The agency, however, said last Friday that it was reviewing its options for moving forward, and would continue talks with the board and local stakeholders. The DOT added that it considers the community board vote “advisory on substantial safety projects.”
While Mayor Bill de Blasio holds the ultimate say in whether the project will go forth, many turn to the Councilmember within a given project area to gauge where the proposal could be headed.
In 2016, for example, Community Board 4 voted for the DOT’s proposed changes for Queens Boulevard, so long as the changes didn’t include protected bike lanes. After the vote, however, Council Member Daniel Dromm voiced his support for a plan that includes protected lanes. The next day, de Blasio released a statement saying the DOT would move forward with the plan.
Juan Restrepo, Queens Organizer for Transportation Alternatives, said it’s not surprising that Van Bramer hasn’t taken a stance yet.
“This has been such a long and drawn out process,” he said. “Van Bramer and Denise Keehan Smith began this conversation, and it’s been such a windy road to get to where we are.”
He added that it’s up to the Councilmember to commit to the safety improvements, including protected bike lanes, that he called for last year after Gelacio Reyes was struck and killed at 39th Street and 43rd Avenue.
“I hope the Councilmember understands that it’s a very bad precedent to stand next to widows and claim you’ll do x, y, and z and not go through with that,” Reyes said.
Pat Dorfman, the former executive director of the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce and outspoken critic of the DOT’s plan, is also waiting on Van Bramer to respond.
She and her group, Queens Streets, will be meeting with Van Bramer later today to “learn more about his decision.”
“We fervently hope that he will support the passionate concerns of 100% of businesses, churches, schools in and near the corridor, fire officials’ concerns, the majority of residents, and some of us cyclists,” Dorfman said. “[We hope he will] work with us on how to make the streets safer for all, and defend us from city actions which would be detrimental to so many. “
Community Board 2’s vote also comes as DOT officials recently told Community Board 6 that a vote will not be sought on the Queens Boulevard redesign from Yellowstone Boulevard to Union Turnpike, citing mayoral priority. The board, however, still voted no to the plan by a vote of 23 to 11.
While de Blasio has not spoken to whether he will go forth with the plan, he did respond to a caller’s question on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show this morning about the two avenues as a “missing link” between Queens Boulevard and Manhattan.
“We’re going to make a judgement in the name of protecting lives,” de Blasio said. “But I do like to hear from communities. I do like to see if we can balance concerns and get people to hear that we are trying to actually adjust where we can for real and honest needs.”
He added: “We’re not going to–and I’ve shown this many a time on Vision Zero–we’re not going to give in to some loud voices who want to keep a status quo in place that actually endangers peoples lives.”
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119 Comments
Could someone answer me this. Since the implementation of these bike lanes and other safety measures starting in 2015 Queens has seen a permanent increase in accidents of all kinds of 12.5% going from 16,000 total in 2015 and 2014 to 18,000 in 2016 and 2017. How can we call these reforms”safety” improvements? If this is safety let me have the unsafe state that causes fewer accidents. We call be B.S.
You’re either a terrible statistician or you enjoy lying with statistics.
1. “Since the implementation of these bike lanes and other safety measures starting in 2015”
The current Skillman Ave and 43rd Ave bike lanes were installed in 2008 (source: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/skillman-ave-43rd-ave-mar2018.pdf).
In other words, 2014-vs-2015 is the wrong comparison, and you know it.
2. “Queens has seen a permanent increase in accidents”
Bike lanes touch a small minority of streets yet you cite accidents on all streets. You’re comparing apples to oranges. Your statistic does not suggest bike lanes, etc, are ineffective. In fact, your statistic is wholly consistent with this claim: “accidents have decreased on those streets with bike lanes.”
Now consider, specifically, streets with a newly installed bike lane:
– Queens Boulevard became safer (source: https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2018/01/24/pedestrian-injuries-dropped-63-percent-after-queens-boulevard-redesign/)
– 111th St became safer (source: http://www.qchron.com/editions/western/a-deeper-look-into-th-st-crash-stats/article_a465abd3-b2aa-536c-9b3b-31f7248536e8.html)
3. “We call be B.S.”
I think you mean “We speak B.S.”
Accepting that our representatives and our community has no voice is a tough pill to swallow.. though I guess it’s easier for those with fleeting political ideals(The sooner you deal with that the better off you’ll be, I promise)
I’m not sure “lazy” is the correct word given our victory in uniting our neighborhood & winning our local reps. I’d have to say we’ve been very active. Remember, we are the underdogs in this battle. Also remember, no one is against a protected lane running through the neighborhood, there are way more obvious options than installing these down 2 of our most residential/small business blocks.
That said, for anyone that’s complacent with the dots “computer modeling” FDNY study, I ask you to look into this with our dept- engine 325. If you’re unaware, our battalion chief is concerned about their response time on Skillman/43rd. 1 lane. Many double parked delivery trucks and cars. Hard turns. Little room. If you’re choosing to ignore this elephant in the room, you don’t get to campaign this as a safety issue. This is bigger than bicycle safety. Period.
My error – 2 lanes
Congratulations for opposing sustainable development. Maybe we should erect a statue of you posing with major oil company logos? Or hang your picture up next to the site where a cyclist was killed. We shall memorialize you, oh great one.
Congrats right back at you for supporting a half ass proposal that will delay our firefighters en route to burning buildings… You’ve really made everyone safe!
I will agree to hanging my picture by the site of the next cyclists death on 43ave. We have 7 more years to go.
“Truth” shows just how low the Pat Dorfman and Manny Gomez led organizers have sunk as they head inexorably towards defeat.
Naked Truth- The bar is set so low by TA, i think I’m good. And, I wouldn’t be so cocky… it’s not over;)
Naked- The bar is set so low by TA, I think I’m good.
And, I wouldnt be so cocky, it’s not over;)
People genuinely do not want more traffic through this neighborhood. Of any kind. Bikes are traffic. We want traffic put back on the boulevards, we were much safer in this neighborhood before regional traffic started being rerouted through here to ease congestion on Queens Blvd. Now taking the time to park makes a line of annoyed drivers lean n their horns, as if there is something wrong with living here. They don’t live here, this is a short cut for them. Bikes are just the latest stream of people from elsewhere beating us up in a rush to get somewhere else.
There is something wrong with you.
The DOT needs to fix the 7 train before they fix some stupid bike lane!
What does the DOT have to do with the 7 train? I hate it when my side makes us look uninformed. You could just as well ask the DOT to fix NASA
Well said Anonymous! I have to give credit where credit is due.
Jimmy Van Bramer’s husband, Dan Hendrick, is on the board of the Non-profit, Transportation Alternative, pushing for these bike lanes. https://www.transalt.org/staff/board-of-directors
What’s the expression? The cheese smells bad in Denmark? lol
What? Dan Hendrick is on the board of TA, oh my God. What a news flash!
In an unrelated story water is wet.
You do realize the DOT has nothing to do with fixing the 7 train? This is why we should leave it to the experts to decide these things, not community boards.
HOwever, i do agree the 7 train needs to be fixed. #CuomosMTA
When the DOT finds an actual expert please let everyone know. Their current crop of imbeciles are not experts. Installing and removing traffic islands on known parade routes does not generate confidence. It could generate other things as it historically has, alas I’m not an expert.
Oh, sorry, I didn’t know our neighborhood priority was parade routes. Excuuuuuse me!
Parade routes are not a priority. Installing traffic islands after careful study by experts and great expense only to remove them a few months later is. Pay outside contractors to install and then remove traffic infrastructure, kind of a bonus if that’s what you’re looking for.
DOT doesn’t run the trains, that’s the MTA. The 7 train is the second line behind the L to get signals upgraded. That’s the reason for all the closings. The MTA has announced a major overhaul. If you want the subway fixed, call Cuomo. He will be the deciding factor. No matter what you do with the train, it has/will reach peak capacity. One reason for getting more people on bikes.
Will he take sides with the CB2 or with transportation alternatives in favor of the bike lanes? Either way just goes to show you the lack of leadership from Jimmy Van Bramer. Why not take a stance already either for or against it. I hope the bike lanes are installed regardless. They get bike lanes on the other side of Qns Blvd, we get homeless shelters on the south side of the Blvd. We come out and show up at St. Raphael’s church and Homeless Services rams the shelters down our throats – Jimmy says nothing – bike lanes installed in the Gardens – here comes Jimmy and keeps all waiting for his decision like the Heinz Ketchup commercial “ANTICIPATION” !!! When is his next photo op? Boy can’t wait for his BIG Announcement – the anticipation!!!! Which way will Jimmy Swing for or against?
The neighborhood has spoken. Call us irresponsible earth murdering coal supporting bike hating trump loving Pruitt loving climate change denying pieces of whatever. Whatever you need to understand the mentality behind our decision, go for it. If you choose to disregard the complexities of a cities plans to make a scarce parking situation even worse for its residents & biz owners, And ignore our local firefighters speaking up about their future response timing issues, that’s your decision. But Im sorry, it’s still a NO.
That doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Every Community Board in Queens has voted no(I think) and Deblasio/DOT has or is in the process of overruling them. I’m sure the supporters are okay with this(which is completely hypocritical) But this is the reality. Our community leaders and the voices of our residents are no longer a factor. If you are not outraged at this fact alone, you are a hypocrite, likely dealing with your own identity crisis.
Finally You’ve Accepted it. You sound like a smart lazy person. For me that makes you worse than the idiots you represent.
Here’s the thing: We voted for a mayor who supports sustainable transportation and had a well advertised plan to carry out his goals. We get to give our opinion, but not vote on every issue that comes along. That’s not how representative democracy works. Making parking scarce is exactly the point. That way, we won’t all end up wearing pollution masks like the folks in Shanghai.
An Assemblywoman, a Councilman and the residents of a community should be able to vote in on a major road change in their district. Almost every community board, along with some council members, in Queens have voted against this. If this fits into your idea of what representive democracy is, then you’re picking and choosing on when you see it fit for big government to step in.
Let’s say you live in an apartment with a beautiful view of NYC. The mayor steps in and says that they’re changing the zoning so a developer/recycling plant can build a 25 story building, blocking the view you’ve had for 15yrs. The mayor can decide to build this 2 blocks away in the industrial zone, but for some reason he wants it on the residential block, right next door. Do you sit back and let them build? Or do you fight to get that plant where it makes the most sense? Please try and not answer this with a “but this is about saving lives!” .. just take the question for what it is.
From this introduction to bike commuting: “A recent study found that two-wheeled commuters were happier than their gas pedal-stomping, car-caged peers.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/30/smarter-living/biking-to-work-guide.html
Worried about working up a sweat on your way to work? Check out the wide variety of electric scooters, skateboards and Solo Wheel type vehicles that will get you to Midtown in the bike lanes. No 7 train! Nobody sneezing on you! Amazing views of the river!
Greg, e-bikes are illegal on all New York City streets. They are designated as unregistered and uninsurable motor vehicles. Take it up with Albany if you don’t like it. I don’t like it either, but I also don’t think e-bikes belong in bike lanes. They should be treated as motorcycles.
Electrically assisted bikes are not, and your right, the delivery bikes with no limiter that can go over 20mph should be banned.
Greg you and your bike loving ilk who belong to transportation alternatives have a total disregard for human life. The people who live on the square block bounded by 39 Dr.52nd and 54th St. and Skillman Avenue have no way of leaving their block other than Skillman AvenueWhich will be reduced to one lane of traffic so you can enjoy your bike ride to the Queensboro Bridge.This means emergency service vehicles will never be able to get out of this area and the lives of many senior citizens and others who live here Will be in jeopardy so you can enjoy your bike ride to Manhattan. How do you expect 80 and 90-year-old people to get around, I guess you expect them to bike. Most of these people use walkers and wheelchairs To get around and need automobiles to get them to appointments and stores.
I just hope nothing happens to endanger anyone who lives on this block because if it does I personally will fund that person‘s lawsuit against not only the city of New York but Mayor Di Blasio, Councilman Van Bramer, Miss Garcia and Mr. Wright from DOT who are pushing this proposal down our throats and anyone else Associated with this plan including transportation alternatives who need to be told They have to stop the craziness when it comes to their goal of removing all motor vehicles from our streets. Transportation alternatives is a small minority of Bolsheviks who want everyone to succumb to their desires whether they like it or not. It’s time for TJ to realize there are many more people out here besides them. They should ride their bikes on Queens on Northern Boulevard two very wide streets which will not endanger the lives of people living on the streets. What TA, DOT, the mayors office and I was city councilman’s office are saying to the people of Woodside dropdead your life is not worth as much as providing a bike lane for lunatic fringe people who want to push their agenda down everyone’s throat. Maybe you should listen to what the community has to say and give up this crusade to eliminate all motor Vehicles from the streets of New York. Some people cannot bike and need cars to get around.
The stakes were high for cyclists. Myself I’ve been hit one inch from my life bc a motorist ran a red light. You have a lot of time to think when you’re hooked up to an EKG for the evening. Anyway, it’s clear that the dumb and lazy alliance has won this battle. Who is surprised? This is the US afterall (i’ve given up hope on you all).
Sincerely, Woodside property owner and scientist with publications in high level scientific journals; cyclist year round.
On behalf of all motorists, I offer my sincere apology for getting hit and suffering with brain damage. No cyclist should have to go through that:(
Dear Delusional Crazy Person,
The design keeps two lanes on Skillman. Please get your facts straight. Yes, 90 year olds should be driving a car. That’s the safest way for them to get around…Really???
No it doesn’t Greg. Go away already. Read the proposal. You have so much to say and are misinformed
Greg, contrary to your NYT link, you don’t sound like a happy person. Time for a long vacation for you? I’m done with this story and your style of ugly activism is counter productive at this point. So done with feeding your Trump-style hunger for attention.
As opposed to your style of ugly stye of activism which is endangering peoples lives? If your done feeding my hunger for attention, why are you wasting your time to comment?
-You’re over weight – get some exercise;
-You are broke – save on auto insurance, gas, parking, maintenance and traffic violations;
– The air smells like exhaust fumes – breathe clean air.
On top of it all it makes for a very dangerous situation on the road. The above reasons are why JVB is likely to be in favor of the deal. Most of you are too dumb to understand what’s best. If you want to be a car owner (I am not sure why you would want this given 1,2&3 above). I lost faith in people after reading these message boards. I thought it was the government forcing us to live under their thumb. Now I see people have grown large and lazy and now want to maintain the status quo. It’s very sad. Do you really like polluted cancer causing air? Do you like working an extra 5-10 years to pay for your car? You must really like your job! People from outside of United States brand Americans fat and dumb. The people resisting a change for the better like this are the ones they’re talking about. Yep, that’s right, the world is laughing at YOU! And you’re too dumb to even realize it! Sad!
.. Brought to you by UBER BIKE
Go f*** yourself, you smug liberal. Keep talking and guarantee another Trump win.
All evidence points to this post being a troll. Don’t fall for it whichever side you are on this issue. He/she is enjoying yanking your emotions around.
Reason!!! E-gads! Don’t listen to reason folks. There is no room for that round here.
Turn that frown upside down Oscar DeGrouch!
The DOT needs to move on from this $hyte bicycle plan. Nothing is more dangerous than the irate masses. MOVE ON DOT!
Just do it,
Your post echoes the vile and thuggish behavior on display at the meetings by the pro parking contingent. Good thing we’re the little Mayberry in the middle of NYC…LOL
I have a great idea! Since everyone is so into parking, let’s get you to put your money where your mouth is. All parking spaces in NYC converted into pay spaces. Some one and two hour, and some 24 hours with the ability to pay for a week at a time. Say, a $2.00 a day. Depending on state law, the money could fund the MTA, schools, child health care, permanent housing for the homeless, or Access A Ride. The possibilities are endless. Let’s top it off with resident parking permits while we’re at it.
Right. Why do car owners — and only car owners — have the privilege of using our most public of spaces — our streets — to use as a free storage facility for their personal property, their cars? I have a feeling that if I decided to free up some space in my apartment and put my refrigerator on the street and take up a full lane, there’d be trouble. But if you own a two-ton slab of glass and steel that happens to be a car, there’s no problem. You are allowed to completely block an entire lane of just about every street. You pay nothing for the privilege. But that is valuable space and people need it. It could be used for pedestrians, bicyclists, buses, and emergency vehicles. But people and ambulances and fire trucks can’t use it because we let cars take it and pay nothing for it. Just about everything we could do with that space is more useful, productive, and just generally better than letting car owners block it by using it for storage they don’t pay anything for. Why are cars more important than people?
Well first off we pay our way by tolls, which also help fund your sidewalks and bike lanes… Second, we pay for petrol, which state tax takes and uses to fund things (again, like your bike lane and sidewalks)…. Third, we pay for registration which again, the state uses to fund more things (AGAIN, your bike lanes and sidewalks). Please have a look around the Sunnyside/Woodside/LIC area and see how many auto-body shops there are. These shops all add to our community and buy lunch, groceries, etc. from other local shops. With added transportation expenses, more people will move elsewhere, putting all these local places out of business. Currently, the only problem we are having is lack of parking, so why should we fix what isn’t broken? Just make what we have better- meaning to just add safety measures to the lanes we have, rather than spending millions on a something that people from out-of-area want more than locals. How about a resident parking permit as well. Take that money and again, add to bettering our community. You are clearly not from this area (and don’t care about this are), don’t own a car (or know of anyone who owns a car), and blinded by the idea of a bike lane. Sorry Verdaddy, you are ignorant and have no idea what you are talking about.
Well said
City streets, sidewalks, and bike lanes are maintained by the NYC DOT, which is a city agency. Tolls, gas taxes, and registration fees are all collected by the state, not the city. Paying those gives you no more right to park your car on my street than I have to ride a bike on the LIE.
Go look up where taxes by county go again, including specific surcharges.
You think the city funds itself completely? What a joke you are…
And what do you and your little bike provide the community? There is NO income from your bike riding in our area at all! And you want to spend it! You really think that people will get their families together to ride their bikes all the way from Long Island or the City to come to have a nice meal or take their dog to our dog park? Again, I call bullshit. There is no valid argument when it comes to these bike lanes other than the fact that it helps people get from A-B safer, which can be done without uprooting everyone and everything.
Please tell me, how many bike riders have been hit and killed in Sunnyside/Woodside/LIC in the last 10 years? Once you do, please provide me with an explanation as to how they were killed and what type of driver they were killed by (Taxi, Uber, Resident, etc.). You don’t look at ALL the facts and make an assumption and a demand to spend millions on something we are lucky if 30 people an hour use… BTW I live on the corner of Skillman and get to see this from a proper perspective. It makes no sense.
Yep, this is your dumbest post
Schools oppose the bike lanes because kids will get run over by people on bikes. Really? How dumb are these kids? What are these people teaching these kids?
Bet you never thought when you voted for Jimmy Van Bramer that it would be someone who would go against the magority of his constituants and CB2. Yes folks , just like Julious Ceasar – he has that much power. Thumbs up or thumbs down !
57.4% of the households in Van Bramer’s district don’t have a car (2000 Census data see PDF at http://www.tstc.org/reports/cpsheets/NYCcouncil_factsheet_district%2026.pdf )
What percent own bikes?
“when some maniac is barreling down Skillman, as some maniac does every hour of every day” — the maniac is usually on a bike, running red lights, not in the bike lane, or going the wrong way. Pedestrians are more afraid of bikers than cars, since 95% of cars do not routinely run red lights. All the chorus about safety for bikers – totally insincere and unbelievable, since you pose the major danger to me on an everyday basis.
It’s NYC and it’s dangerous everywhere, at every intersection with respect to people violating the rules (pedestrians, cyclists AND cars/trucks). Just look both ways before you cross the street, and I feel you will have more luck in not being a victim (are you the type constantly not paying attention when you cross the streets)? I felt sad after reading your angry message. Life is too short to be as angry as you are for little reason. I started to look out for cyclists as i cross skillman after reading your post the other day. As a pedestrian on foot i’ve never had any isssues with cyclists. however as a cyclist i was hit by a taxi running a red light in midtown in 2014. it broke my ankle and i nearly died. I’m sorry you’re so bitter. Have you considered counseling/therapy for your condition? It’s not cyclists that are the issue. it’s the cars. If you argue anything else I’m afraid that the way you construct reality is very far from reality.
Just admit it Ann, you care more about parking than peoples lives and your willing to lie about it to get your way.
I met him at the cb2 workshop meeting. We were at the same table. In mid rant, I felt the need to ask him where he was from. He quickly got red-faced and said, “Brooklyn Heights, why does it matter?” Now the reason I’m 99% sure this is the same angry fella is because he has been posting, word for word, what he said at that meeting. Either TA has a strict manual of one-liners, or our infamous “Greg” is in fact a TA Brooklyn troll that is fiercely aiming at our residents and small business community.
TA, what’s up?
Dear Ding Dong,
I wish I could afford Brooklyn Heights. I live in Sunnyside because I have to, like a lot of others. That’s why I’m working to drag it out of 1984 and make it a neighborhood that welcomes progressive ideals. A neighborhood that cares about the safety of others. The real Mayberry in NYC everyone keeps talking about. Your lying says we have a way to go.
Yeah, that’s really convincing “Greg” That’s why you’re keeping it real in an anonymous comment section. One day you might build up the courage to speak your mind in a public forum. Maybe when the dot plans for a protected lane in the Heights and that little cafe that you get your daily latte from speaks up about losing business, maybe then you’ll come out under that rock and stand up for your mom and pops. Until then, Stay cowardly, bra
“Until then, Stay cowardly, bra” So, now your a liar and a frat boy…not the most attractive combination.
Whatever Brooklyn troll, your lies gentrify.
Strange. If someone drove through Sunnyside every day to get to work, visit family, or shop in the neighborhood, would you have a problem with that?
It sounds like Greg likes to ride a bike and text at the same time. He can’t keep his fingers off his smart phone. I wonder if he was the guy I saw riding a bike in the wrong direction on 43rd Avenue at night with no lights or reflectors to warn cars or pedestrians?
you sure it was not Mr. JVB’s friend.
Anonymous,
Brain first, typing second.
Dear Cyclists and political leaders,
Will you please try to talk some logic into these lazy selfish clueless people who live unsustainable day after day. Tell them to get a clue. Advise them against their will to start making a transition to a sustainable lifestyle before it’s too late. Soon I cannot provide you with clean air to breathe anymore. You will need oxygen tanks, what a pity.
Sincerely, Earth
Grow up snowflake. After cars what is next on the hit list of non-sustainable things people will need to give up?
Anonymous,
From Merriam Webster, “In Missouri in the early 1860s, a “Snowflake” was a person who was opposed to the abolition of slavery—the implication of the name being that such people valued white people over black people.”
Fascinating, not relevant but fascinating. Common usage today has no such association and you know it.
I’m shocked people still use “snowflake” unironically. I thought it was only used sarcastically to make fun of Trumpeters.
Pat Dorfman,
Businesses could have just asked the DOT for more business parking. Instead, you are actively working to endanger people’s lives because you have a delusional idea that you are the savior of Sunnyside. Sorry to tell you, but you are most definitely not Jane Jacobs.
The NYFD and NYPD have signed off on the plan. While the rank and file can give their opinion, the people they report to have agreed to it.
As far as churches supporting you and your followers; do you mean the guys you can’t leave your kids with? The guys that think women are half of a human? The guys who’s job is supposed to be saving peoples souls? Really, that’s who you want in your corner?
Let’s get another thing straight. You’re not a cyclist. Period. You may ride, or have ridden a bike now and again, but you don’t ride into the city every day like my wife and several people in our building. All of them actual people with families, spouses, children, and the same right to be safe as drivers. If you were a cyclist, you would know the dangers faced every day by your neighbors, but again, your not.
You have 2200 signatures. Nobody disputes that. However, that’s not the majority of the neighborhood. Just because church leaders (you know, those guys that think women are half a human) agree with you doesn’t mean their followers do. So 2200 doesn’t magically turn into 8000.
You may be able to delay this, but the DOT will keep coming back until we have Safer Streets For All. See, you are trying to stop change instead of adapting to it. Being able to adapt to change is what separates happy New Yorkers from the ones that get eaten alive by it. Which one will you and your followers be?
Every time there is a vote on protected bike lanes, a choice is being made. The choice is this — when some maniac is barreling down Skillman, as some maniac does every hour of every day, and that maniac hits something, what is he or she going to hit? Will it be a parked car, or will it be a human bicyclist? When the vote is against protected bike lanes, we are saying it is better to kill or maim a human rather than to damage a car. It is infuriating that cars and parking spaces are considered more valuable than human lives.
So “every hour of every day” a maniac is hitting something on Skillman Ave and that something is a human bicyclist (as contrasted with the non-human cyclist)? Now that is news and why hasn’t TA referred to this activity in its campaign for bike lanes on Skillman and 43rd Avenues?
John O’Reilly,
What fantasy world do you live in? Maybe before you check out of the building for good, you should stop smearing a trail of your own excrement all over the neighborhood. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but when you start lying and endangering peoples lives that’ s how you get treated.
With the exception of the violence, drivers who text and drive should lose their license for 30 days on their first offense. Texting is no mistake or accident. It is a decision. Be a passenger in an uber for a month and then decide which is more important driving or your conversations!
It sounds as if the Mayor has already made up his mind. If that is the case, he should be removed from office. He has a history of putting his donors above his constituents so my hopes for being safe from extremists like the commenter known as Greg, are low. His enmetic soul threatens to poison us all.
New Yorker’s fault for voting the Mayor in for a second term and all these incumbents in City Council. Why?
Poisoning us? That’s you in your fossil fuel burning vehicle… the one whose poisoning us. Let’s get our facts straight here.
Tiredoftheposing,
Did you vote? The majority of the people that did vote supported a Mayor who clearly stated that he believed in, and would continue to implement Vision Zero. The numbers show it works. Also, the DOT’s strategic plan has been up for two years. They plainly state on the first page that one of their main goals is to to protect bicyclists and pedestrians, the most vulnerable street users. They list exactly how many miles of protected lanes they try to install every year, why they are doing it, and why NYC and every major city around the world is on the same path towards encouraging sustainable transportation over personal car use. If you need a car for health reasons, job commute or caregiver purposes, nobody has a problem with that. It’s the people who want a car, but are in denial that Sunnyside is not a car suburb that the city is not supporting.
What is an enmetic soul by the way?
Yes, I voted. And once again, I support safety for all. I support protected lanes on Queens or Northern Blvds. I do not support more regional traffic of any kind running through neighborhoods. Enmetic is the adjectival form of enmity, a state of venomous opposition. In terms of poisoning us I meant the relations between people. I fully support the transportation industry to develop clean, affordable vehicles. If I could afford it, I would buy one now. Unfortunately the nasty fossil fuel industry owns lots of our lawmakers.
Again,
The lanes aren’t going to go on Queens or Northern. That is a myth propagated by Pat Dorfman, Gary O’neil and Denise Keehan-Smith to whip up their desperate base.
Not a myth, but a better idea for our neighborhood… for many obvious reasons, ya klutz
Yes, I voted. And again, I’m for safety for all. Protected lanes on the boulevards. Enmetic is the adjectival form of enmity.
Your for safety for all? Then start walking the walk instead of just talking the talk!
Greg, you are out of your league in this convo, sorry buddy.
Jimmy was too busy raising money so he can run for Queens Borough President. He is afraid of offending his biking buddies so just wait and see where he stands. He is utterly useless and imagine having to listen to him for another 4 years as borough president?
Well Said! Totally Correct!!!
Gee wiz!!!..Unsure about what position to take?…It appears whatever direction the wind is blowing is critical in making this decision!!!..Spineless!!!!
Typical Cathy Nolan style, the day AFTER the vote takes a stand and makes a statement after other people stood and took a public vote on their opinion the day of the vote. Where were you during the time of influence all these months and take a position ahead of time like Crowley did? Nolan has always been a master manipulator all these years. Once again, attempting to ride on the coat tails of others after they did all the work. State Term Limits Please!
Don’t blame Assemblymember Nolan. The teachers union was late in making up it’s mind on the bike lanes.
Teachers union? You mean the two people who showed up! Stop lying John!
Besides parking on Skillman and 43rd Ave, when this diverts more 59th st Bridge traffic to Qns Blvd, Roosevelt and Northern it will only endanger bikes, cause traffic jams and destroy the quality of life for the home owners. Look what the Qns. Blvd bike lanes did to Manhattan bound traffic especially at 65th pl. and NO ONE uses them .
Can you and others like you please just read a book once in a while? Whatever you do, please stop with the blatant uniformed ranting.
Your blatant disgust for people who disagree with you puts you in the same category as another dictator from Querns the world has learned to hate. Keep it up, you will be infamous sme day.
I actually don’t have disgust for people who disagree with me. It’s people like Pat Dorfman, Denise Keehan-Smith, Gary O’neil, and Manny Gomez, who have engaged in a Trump style campaign of alternate reality while making factually inaccurate statements about the efficacy of bike lanes that I have disgust for. As they say, you are entitled to your opinion, but not your own set of facts.
Funny you should bring up the tiny-handed racist, sexual predator, and Queens native in the White House. He learned his bad behavior somewhere, didn’t he?
Says the man who says northern or queens are not viable (which the dot never said) your group TA also got signatures by telling people if they didn’t sign for the protected bike lane that the current one would be painted over and taken away, but yes everyone else is immoral. You people are brutual with your lies!
Got facts/figures to back that up? I’m not trying to whack the already whacked beehive here, I’m honestly trying to figure out where I stand on this.
If this article is accurate and the opinion of the Councilmember whose district includes the proposed bike lanes has great influence over whether DOT will proceed regardless of the Community Board vote, the proposal to extend bike lanes on Queens Blvd through Forest Hills should be DOA. Councilmember Karen Koslowitz, whose district includes the proposed extension of the bike lanes to Union Tpk., has come out against the DOT proposal and CB 6 voted against the proposal. Let’s see if DOT follows its past practice or treats Councilmember Koslowitz differently than her male colleagues.
Yes John,
I’m sure the two woman in charge of the DOT will treat Koslowitz differently than her male colleagues. Really?
Do I think the Mayor and City Council President are capable of having less regard for Karen Koslowitz than for her male colleagues? Yes.
Councilman should announce that he is introducing a bill in the City to require helmets and safety vests for all bike riders using NYC street bike lanes. NOW THAT WILL SAVE LIVES!
Why are you punishing people on bikes because some drivers can’t drive properly?
How about if we start by cutting off a finger from anybody caught driving and texting. NOW THAT WILL SAVE LIVES!
Good suggestion Tony. I also wish JVB would seriously look into the issue of licensing for bikers too, especially if he is thinking of not supporting the CB2 decision. Safety and accountability for all who use the road.
The NYPD frequently tickets cyclists, and they have to produce either a driver’s license or other official ID when stopped.
how about the motorized delivery men do they produce a license or other official ID when stopped – ABSOLUTELY NOT – because they are NEVER STOPPED at all and that is a fact and they do not go in the bike lanes at all.
Anonymous,
Call the 108th precinct and ask for more enforcement of current laws that apply to these people if you are concerned about this.
I and many other people have yet to see any of these people being ticketed at all so get your facts right.
What are you all going to do when the lack of parking really comes to a head? The city and developers aren’t going to build more parking. Any new construction will have inadequate parking. People that can afford to move here can most likely afford a car. Will you degenerate into some real South Boston style behavior? Putting lawn chairs in spaces you shoveled out, and then smashing someone’s windshield when they park there. Keying people’s doors that you think aren’t from around here. You can face the music now and have safe streets, or you can face it later. Your choice.
Helmets and safety vests are going to save you in a serious car crash? That was an incompetent statement. You make it clear that you are completely clueless as to what’s going on. Do us all a favor and return to NJ where you belong.
I look forward to him taking a real stand on the issue. Before this, he wanted it to go through by the Community Board and stand on the side to take credit. Now, he has to make a full decision for Sunnyside/Woodside voters, which he must serve for another 3 years, despite his ongoing campaigning to be Queens Borough President in three years from now. This announcement will be very important to this neighborhood voters to see if it is about OUR wishes, which he is suppose to uphold, or his broader ambitions.
Yes, Our wishes. Protected Bike Lanes and Safe Streets for all!
Greg, stop trolling. Why don’t you read and comment on the Jackson’s Heights Post?
Why don’t you stop actively campaigning to endanger people’s lives?
Bicycle riders should have insurance, have to register their bikes and have a visible way of identifying them. Same as cars and motorcycles. Share the roads, share the responsibilities.